Lyrics for North American Scum as interpreted by cheeseface2000

North American Scum Lyrics
oh oh oh
oh i don't know, i don't know, oh, where to begin
we are north americans
and for those of you who still think we're from england
we're not, no.
we build our planes and our trains till we think we might die,
far from North America,
where the buildings are old and you might have lots of mimes.
aha, oh, oh.
i hate the feelin' when you're looking at me that way
cause we're north americans
but if we act all shy, it�ll make it ok
makes it go away.

oh I don't know, I don't know, oh, where to begin
when we're north american
but in the end we make the same mistakes all over again
come on north americans

we are north american scum
we�re from north america

and all the kids all the kids that want to make the scene
here in north america
when our young kids get to read it in your magazines
we don't have those
so where's the love where's the love where's the love where's the love where's the love tonight?
but there's no love man there's no love and the kids are uptight
so throw a party till the cops come in and bust it up
let's go north americans
oh you were planning it i didn't mean to interrupt
sorry
i did it once and my parents got pretty upset
freaked out in north america
but then i said the more i do it the better it gets

let's rock north america

we are north american scum
we're from north america
we are north american scum
we are north american

new york's the greatest if you get someone to pay the rent
wahoo north america
and it's the furthest you can live from the government un huh huh
some proud american christians might disagree
here in north america
but new york's the only place we're keepin them off the street
boo boo now we can't have parties like in spain where they go all night
shut down in north america
or like berlin where they go another night, alright, un huh un huh

you see i love this place that i have grown to know
alright, north america.
and yeah, I know you wouldn�t touch us with a ten-foot pole
�cause we�re north americans.

we are north american scum
we are north americans
we are north american scum
we love north america

take me back to the states man
north american scum
where we can be all we want if we really ????
north american
where the dj gigs are as fun
here in north american scum
don't blame the canadians
let go north america

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  • 18 Comments
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jameskendall
02-26-2007

Rated 0 
a much misunderstood song this, at least in the UK. it's not saying that north americans are scum, it's James Murphy getting pissed off with a racist generalisation about the country he's from. and he's right - there's good and bad in america and you shouldn't judge a person by their government.

these are the key lines:

"i hate the feelin' when you're looking at me that way
cause we're north americans
but if we act all shy, it’ll make it ok
makes it go away."

important sentiment, i can't believe no one (journalists, music fans) gets it.

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deathbysexiest
03-24-2007

Rated 0 
such a good song, kendall summed it up perfectly.

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JAStewart
04-18-2007

Rated -1 
I want to go to America, but it is a bit scummy. Then again, so is the UK. Probably on much the same level.

If you ever watch those programs about people who are mental, sick, twisted or complete cunts, its filmed in America - Check out Louis Theroux's documentaries on YouTube.

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rossismad
04-21-2007

Rated 0 
hahahah WHAT?!?!?!

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ihum
05-13-2007

Rated 0 
great song...new American anthem

jameskendall - you nailed it. thanks

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julep
08-08-2007

Rated 0 
Murphy sends up both American cultural limitations and contempt from those who think dismissing Americans as cro-magnons = instant credibility. But he's a NYC boy, so he doesn't REALLY care.

JAStewart, Theroux is hardly better than tabloid TV hosts in the US in his chosen subject matter, although he is certainly more posh and educated. Choosing an easy, sensational target is not the sign of an intrepid journalist.

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zatoichi
08-16-2007

Rated 0 
I love the female back vocal singing North American :)
Pretty catchy song.

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jameskendall
11-27-2007

Rated 0 
probaly not the place for it but the whole louis theroux posh idiot thing is an act to get his subjects to open up and not feel threatened. the interview with him about jimmy saville on 50 greatest Documentaries was very interesting. he's very clever but jon ronson probably does the faux-niave thing better.

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tcaporale
12-21-2007

Rated 0 
Yeah, the song isn't calling all North Americans scum (a reason the song probably did so well in the UK), it's sort of saying that just because our government is making questionable decisions doesn't mean all Americans feel the same way. As in any country, you've got a whole lot of nice people...and a whole lot of assholes. The narrator kind of plays up the stereotypical ignorant American, trying to party and have a good time, taking advantage of all of the freedoms he was born with.

But...who knows? Maybe James Murphy really does hate his country, lol. In some ways, I wouldn't blame him...

The song itself has an awesome groove, great to dance to, I'm sure. Actually, I wouldn't know, since I can't dance worth a lick, lol.

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Herbitron
08-06-2008

Rated 0 
While it's true that this song isn't about North Americans being scum, I think it does express some discontent about American life, although it expresses a certain kind of love for it too. I would imagine that the dj gigs wouldn't be as fun in America, as all of the greatest djs come from Europe. And they do party all night and all morning in Spain, and I think there's a hint of jealousy in these lyrics. But all in all, the writer loves the fact that he's an American, and he wouldn't trade his roots for anything, because being American straight up rocks.

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Quag7
10-29-2008

Rated 0 
I don't think he's in any way excusing American excesses or specifically even venting anger about the way people from the US are treated. I think it makes him uneasy, and I think any American with a brain knows there's a fair amount of truth in the criticism we take from abroad, especially the Europeans who probably understand us better than we give them credit for.

That said, I don't personally apologize for all the things we're criticized for and I don't like the sense of hostility I sometimes get simply for having been born and lived here, nor the way I am stereotyped or grouped in with the most excessive of my countrymen (Evangelical Christians, war..."buffs," let's say, and so on).

I think this is just an accounting for the way things stand for a guy who has traveled in Europe and conversations he's overheard or took part in. But like he says, this is a country where they shut down parties. Where the boot stomps a little deeper sometimes. We have our problems. But a lot of us don't like it, and never supported any of it and were...outnumbered.

What's left to do but act shy, to make it go away.

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kooper
06-30-2009

Rated 0 
"some proud american christians might disagree" - sounds like FAT american christians to me.

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1 Reply
teenqueen22
07-14-2009

Rated 0 
i love "and for those of you who still think we're from england...we're not... no." x]

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herdarkesthell
08-20-2009

Rated 0 
As a dual national of both America and Great Britain (And having lived in both countries) this song hits pretty close to home.

It's racism, xenophobia, whatever you want to call it. And it hurts. It's about the looks we get the second we open our mouths. It's the feeling we get when strangers feel they have the right to question you about personal things. About your family. About friends dying. About blaming a random for THEIR friends dying. It's not a pretty thing, and this song nails it.

Who said that bigotry had to be against colour? (Or color, for my American counterparts)

Do the words 'Alliance of the Willing' mean NOTHING? Does the term 'coalition' mean anything to you?

Time to stop looking for a scapegoat. Some of the people I know have hit out at kids too young to have voted in the Bush elections. Is that fair? Does it make Europe stronger, better, for the way that they have reacted to things? No. Just as it doesn't make America better for the way they reacted.

Get over it, learn from it, and try not to be dicks. Simple.

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MilkyFresh
10-09-2009

Rated 0 
First comment nailed it

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